Trump Proposes Forced Exile for Recidivist American Criminals

On Monday, President Donald Trump proposed to House Republicans a radical idea to exile American criminals who repeatedly offend. This approach, which he argues has never been used in the U.S., echoes a practice that was prevalent in the United Kingdom nearly two centuries ago. During a dinner at his golf resort in Doral, Florida, Trump expressed his determination to remove such individuals from the country, insisting, "Let’s see how they like it."

In his speech, Trump also referenced his recent pardons of over 1,500 individuals associated with the January 6 Capitol insurrection, drawing attention to the severity of crimes committed by both American-born offenders and undocumented immigrants. He claimed his administration is effectively handling undocumented criminals, emphasizing their accountability while contrasting them to U.S. citizens who are also involved in serious offenses, such as violent assaults.

Trump stated that he wishes to rid the country of both repeat offenders and illegal immigrants, asserting that the costs of housing prisoners are enormous, especially with the involvement of private prison companies. He advocated for transporting these criminals overseas, suggesting such a move would be financially beneficial and serve to decrease crime rates in the U.S.

However, Trump's assertions are contentious, as he also made a false claim regarding foreign countries sending criminals to the U.S. to reduce their own crime rates. While he acknowledges legislation must be passed to authorize such exiles, experts highlight the improbability of this plan gaining congressional approval or surviving legal scrutiny, as it could violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Historically, the practice of exile began in the UK in the 1600s but was abolished in the latter part of the 19th century.